Born on a Train
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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Some roads are only seen at night.
Ghost roads, nothing but neon signs.
But some nights the neon gas gets free-
Turns into walking dead like me.

And I've been makin' promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I have to go when the whistle blows-
The whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train.

I know that you were never young,
And I know you probably won't get old.
But honey, nobody's gonna hurt you anymore.
And nobody's gonna make you wanna die.

But I've been makin' promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I have to go when the whistle blows-
The whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train.

I'll go one cold and gray morning.
And you won't remember anything.
But some people don't believe in time.
And some of us don't believe in life.

But I've been makin' promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I have to go when the whistle blows-
The whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train...





Baby, I was born on a train...

Overall Meaning

The song "Born on a Train" by The Magnetic Fields is a melancholic yet intriguing piece that explores several themes, from the idea of the ghostly neon signs of the city to the importance of leaving behind old promises and ties. The opening lines of the song set a dark and eerie tone, describing the ghostly side of the city that is only visible at night. The singer regards himself as a walking dead person, emphasizing his sense of detachment from reality and perhaps even implying a feeling of guilt.


The singer then admits to making promises that he knows he cannot keep, and that he will eventually leave his partner behind. The image of the whistle blowing is repeated throughout the song, indicating the inevitability of change and the need to move on. The line "Baby, I was born on a train" suggests a sense of restlessness and a desire for something different, perhaps indicating that the singer feels trapped or unfulfilled in his current situation.


In the second verse, the singer turns his attention to his partner and assures them that he will protect them from harm. The lines "But honey, nobody's gonna hurt you anymore. And nobody's gonna make you wanna die" suggest that the partner has suffered in the past and that the singer is determined to provide them with safety and stability. However, the singer is also aware that his promises are empty, and that he will eventually leave his partner behind.


Overall, "Born on a Train" explores complex themes such as detachment, restlessness, and the inevitability of change. The use of imagery such as ghostly neon signs and the sound of a whistle adds to the eerie and melancholic tone of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Some roads are only seen at night.
There are certain paths that are only visible once the sun goes down.


Ghost roads, nothing but neon signs.
These roads are abandoned and only have bright lights to guide the way.


But some nights the neon gas gets free-
On occasion, the lights take on a life of their own.


Turns into walking dead like me.
Emphasizes the feeling of being alive but at the same time feeling dead inside.


And I've been makin' promises I know I'll never keep.
Admitting to making commitments that can't be fulfilled.


One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
The singer acknowledges the inevitable end of their relationship.


I have to go when the whistle blows-
The singer is accustomed to the transient lifestyle and must move on when it's time.


The whistle knows my name.
The artist is so used to leaving that their identity is synonymous with departing.


Baby, I was born on a train.
The artist was born into a life of constant motion and transience.


I know that you were never young,
The artist is aware that their partner has experienced great trauma and loss.


And I know you probably won't get old.
The singer is unsure if their partner will ever fully recover from their past experiences.


But honey, nobody's gonna hurt you anymore.
The artist is reassuring their partner that they will be protected and cared for.


And nobody's gonna make you wanna die.
The singer is reassuring their partner that they will not be driven to the brink of self-destruction.


I'll go one cold and gray morning.
The singer acknowledges their own mortality and the inevitability of their departure.


And you won't remember anything.
The singer is aware that their absence may go unnoticed or even go unrecognized.


But some people don't believe in time.
The artist is questioning the idea of time and its significance in the grand scheme of things.


And some of us don't believe in life.
The artist seems to be questioning the nature and purpose of their existence.


Baby, I was born on a train...
The refrain serves as both a reminder of the singer's origins and a reiteration of their transient nature.




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Merritt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

meesalikeu

Some roads are only seen at night.
Ghost roads, nothing but neon signs.
But some nights the neon gas gets free
And turns into walking dead like me.
And I've been making promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I'll have to go when the whistle blows, the whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train.
I know that you were never young,
And I know you prob'ly won't get old.
But honey, nobody's gonna hurt you anymore.
And nobody's gonna make you wanna die.
And I've been making promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I'll have to go when the whistle blows, the whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train.
I'll go some cold and gray morning.
And you won't remember anything.
But some people don't believe in time.
And some of us don't believe in life.
And I've been making promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I'll have to go when the whistle blows, the whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train.
Baby, I was born on a train...
Baby, I was born on a train..



All comments from YouTube:

Gaming for Idiots

Years later and this never gets old; if you listen with a good set of headphones you hear the layered melody building in the background really clearly, it’s just wonderful

Isaac High

i was just talking a friend about this. so many magnetic fields songs surprise me with each listen. layered melodies, stephin harmonizing with himself, new noises i'd never heard before. reminder to always listen with fresh ears <3

René Jiménez

"And I've been making promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I'll have to go when the whistle blows, the whistle knows my name.
...Baby, I was born on a train"
such great lyrics!

Michel Stephens

Still fantastic - probably won't ever get old

t.s

fun fact, when you play this on guitar (with a capo on 2nd so as to be in the right key) the chords you play for the verse happen to be D-E-A-D

Dr Robert S pectre Chenault

One of my all time forever favorite songs

Dr Robert S pectre Chenault

Steven has captured the vinaigrette of life; makes me cry and sing and want to play it again , thank you Steven

Joe Brewer

This is one of the best indie videos ever made.

Beth Arzy

I love this song so much and the video. Ilsa Jule is so beautiful. 

notanfningain

If I had to be stranded on a desert island with one song; this would be that song.

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